Ripe Mango Chronicles

I got some pretty sad news last week that has been so heavy on my heart. A young man, who was once mine, was arrested. The rest of the day I processed this information, and then a gnawing feeling crept into my heart. Did I do all I could have to help him? Was there something else I could have said to him? Was there something else I could have done for him? The questions were churning in my mind, and then an even greater and more convicting thought came. One day I will stand before the Lord to give an account for what I did or didn't do with the responsibilities I was entrusted with. (Romans 14:12, 2 Corinthians 4:10) Including this young man. When I stand before God, will He see that I did all I could? That I seized every opportunity I was given to lead this young man down the right path? I don't know. I lay in bed that night unable to sleep, thinking about this young man and the weight of the responsibility I have been given laying heavy on my heart and mind. I have a r

I have found myself saying over and over, “Life is just so crazy right now, when it get’s back to normal…” A dear friend gently whispered, “Rachel, I think you need to accept that crazy is your normal.” Ah…the not so gentle slap in the face of truth. I live a crazy life. It will always be crazy. There is no calm, simple, quiet life on the horizon. Sigh. Accept this fact. Take a deep breath. Think about why my life is so crazy, think about each precious face I have the privilege of loving. Smile. Start dreaming of ways to be successful and joyful in the midst of crazy.